The Role of Networking in Weekly Program Production : Case RTG Active

The main objective of the thesis was to compile a business operations manual for RTG Active focusing on its weekly program production and equipment rental services. Cooperation with other service providers plays a vital role in the operation of RTG Active. Thus, cooperation with a set of network partners of the company was investigated: their perceptions on cooperation, whether they match with those of RTG Active, and how cooperation could be developed. Moreover, the aim was to establish an idea of what kind of weekly program concepts exist in other destinations in Finland and whether the procedures of the production differ from those of RTG Active. Case study method was used in the research. The main part of the empirical research consisted of interviews with RTG Active and its network partners. Secondary data was collected on the Internet, as well as, from the databases of RTG Active. All the collected data was qualitative. The study results indicated that there were no obvious defects in the cooperation although the expected outcomes from it were not yet substantial. Financial benefits and gaining of extra income presented the main motives for the cooperation. Additionally, the motives of RTG Active relate to portraying itself as a multi-faceted service provider. The appreciation of the inputs of RTG Active varied among the network partners although they were considered substantial by RTG Active. The commitment and inputs of the partners to cooperation were varying and seemed to depend on personal relations and the frequency of the personal encounters of the company owners with each other. Concrete problems were almost non-existent but possible issues e.g. due to competition were noted. Suggestions for development of the cooperation concerned mostly increase in encounters between the network actors and developing cooperation in the group travel sector. Certain quality issues arose in the operations of RTG Active, in particular. The findings of the weekly program comparison were not profound, however, among ...